New Ulm weekly review., 1887-09-21
During the next few days Miss

During the next few days Miss
Grey's manner was as demure as ever
while in the presence OF her patron
ess. but when evening came and Mrs.
Somers betook herself to ball, re-
ceptlon or theater as the case might
be. the young lady gave vent to her
native high spirits by mimicking her
cousin before the long mirror in Clenls
entina's dressing room, waltzing with
the lap-dog, who loudly resented the
liberty, or singing sprightly chanso-
nettes in her fresh, clear tones. Mary
had been educated in frst-rateP Par
isian school, and had contrived to
imbibe a good deal of French esprit
along with more solid accomplish
ments. But oftener she fell to needle
work with pralseworthy ardor, and
when thus employed her spirits rose
laugh aloud from sheer inability to
keep her mirth TO herself, as she pic
tured and re.pictured in her busy
brain what Clementina, would say
and how Clementina would look when
her humble companions brilliant idea
was fully matured and carried out.
The rivalry of the two widows did
| not abate as the days went on. Fltz
was seldom to be seen without one or
other by his side. Bets were freely
laid on the event at the clubs,
the odds varying as blonde
or brunette was in the as
cendant. Clementina fattered her
self that she would be in first at the
winning post, while Minna was equally
confident that to her would fall the
honor of carrying off the Brandon
| sweepstakes.
Little Fitz could but feel aattered
by the open admiration of these two
charming ladies. When chaffed about
It at his club, he only laughed and
stroked his mustache complacently,
for he was extremely good humored,
and even the scowls of Maitland and
Cafnforth did not ruffle him. But he
had evidently not made up his mind
which OF the ladies was to be Mrs.
Fitzgerald Brandon. He lunched
one day with Clementina, but
dlned with Minna the next; he sat the
whole evening in the opera-box of one,
but he was certain to be seen in the
Row next morning with the other;
| and so the balance OF power was
| maintained.
Both ladies were at their Wits end.
How was this oscillating swain to be
secured? It was so intolerable to see
him flirting openly with Minna after
he had all but proposed
the day before to Clement1na;
and vice versa. OF course every
one was amused but the two victims,
and they were really miserable. How
ever, an event to which both had
long looked forward would, they hoped
bring matters toa crisis. Lady Mabel
Smith was going to give a ball masque
at her charming suburban villa on
the Thames, and the widows had
devised ravishlng toilets for the occa-
sion. Little Fitz would surely be sub.
jugated at last; and there would be SO
many opportunities for him to pro-
pose in those delightful gardens. slop-
ing to the river, and lit with colored
lamps q la South Kensington.
The eventful evening came at last.
Mrs. Desmond, arrayed as Nine. de
Pompadour, in rose colored velvet
and diamonds, and Mrs. Somers as
Marie Antoinette, in pale blue satin
and pearls-arrived almost simultan-
eously at Lady Mabels. Little Fitz,
to whom both ladies had, of course,
conided the secret of her incognito,
had got himself up very magnifcently
as Lord Louis the XIV, and this Mrs.
Desmond considered as almost tanta-
mount to a declaration.
The ball was a most brilliant affair;
the weather was everything it should
be. warm, still, and moonless; the illu.
mutations were gorgeous, the music
good, the dresses admirable, and the
wine superlative. Lady Mabels guests
took their pleasure with less insular
sadness and more OF continental live
liness than usual. Whether it was the
novelty and daring Of the thing, or
the tact of the hostess. or the unli,n-
tied opportunities for f1irtation, or.
the spice of intrigue and mystifcation
introduced into the affair by the wear.
ing OF masks, it is certain that the ball
was q complete success from beginning
to end. Mlnna Desmand, however,
was lar from happy, for throughout
the evening little Fitz devoted him
self almost exclusively to her rival.
The blue dress of Marie Antoinette
was always to be seen in juxtaposi-
tion with the brilliant costume of
Louis XIV.
Il suppose he thinks as Clementina
is masked people won't talk" thought
the disconnected widow as she watch
ed the pair.
Carnforth, who has somewhat dis
covered that Nine. de .Pompadour
was no other than his tickle Minna.
came up to her and began to- talk. At
first his attempts at conversation
were coldly received, but Jack wasnot
easily snubbed, and at length she
seemed to relent and gradually glided
into a friendly chat.
Carnforth was delighted; he, begged
for waltz, and Minnn did not refuse
the request. When the dance was
ended he led his partner into one Of
the pleasant hooks in thegarden, hop
L IL u =